O'Neill hit with FA charge

Thursday 8 January 2009 00:04 BST

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association, following his behaviour towards referee Mike Riley after the defeat to Manchester United on Sunday.

Villa had led 2-1 at one stage but lost the match 3-2 after conceding a late goal when teenager Federico Mancheda scored a stoppage-time winner.

O'Neill later claimed Riley missed a foul on Ashley Young in the build-up to Macheda's winner. "The officials also got three offside decisions wrong when we were clean through," he said after the match.